VHP to launch countrywide stir

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has threatened to launch a countrywide agitation if the Centre failed to withdraw its move to extend 4.5% reservation to Muslims in government services out of the constitutionally guaranteed 27% quota for the Other Backward Castes among the Hindus.

“The countrywide agitation will begin from Uttar Pradesh on January 31,” said VHP executive president Praveen Togadia. “On that day all backward caste Hindus, including the OBCs, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) would organise dharnas in district and block headquarters for four hours, beginning 11am,” he added. Togadia warned that the Centre alone would be responsible if it did not withdraw its decision and things went out of hand owing to the VHP agitation.

Addressing a press conference in the state capital on Tuesday, Togadia dubbed the Congress-led UPA government’s decision to extend 4.5% of reservation in jobs to Muslims as a conspiracy to divide the country on communal lines. Togadia said the planning with regard to the VHP’s preparations for the proposed stir had already begun in cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Pune, Roorkee, Meerut and Dehradun.